Controversial Issues on Aristotle s Categories

• Grant number: 22/10929-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Duration: February 12, 2023 - July 21, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Philosophy - History of Philosophy
• Principal Investigator: Marco Antônio de Ávila Zingano
• Grantee: Marco Antônio de Ávila Zingano
• Visiting researcher: Antonio Pedro Sangreman Proenca de Marcelino Mesquita
• Visiting researcher institution: Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

I am currently preparing a book on Aristotle's controversial theses in the Categories. The controversial character of some of these theses was recognised in antiquity. However, surprisingly enough, with the exception of one of them, the attention given to them in modern times has been scant, at best. In this book I intend to make up for this by drawing attention to the philosophical problems that these theses involve and by proposing solutions for each one.I select four theses, to which I devote four long chapters: the first chapter concerns how the clause of the inseparability of accidents in Cat. 2, 1a24-25, is to be interpreted; the second concerns the question of the distinctive property (4´¹¿½) of substance, as set forth in Cat. 5, 4a10-21; the third (the only one that already has a complete written version) deals with the natural simultaneity of relatives in Cat. 7, 7b15-8a12; and the fourth and last concerns the existence of species of a different category from their genera, argued for by Aristotle in Cat. 8, 11a20-39.During the period as visiting researcher at the University of São Paulo, my aim will be to develop the work related to chapters 1, 2 and 4, in order to be in a position to start writing them at the end of the research stay. For that purpose, the interaction with Professor Marco Zingano and the other collaborators of the project he coordinates at the University of São Paulo, as well as with the researchers who meet weekly in his research seminar, would be absolutely crucial, given the different perspectives they would be able to provide on the problems I intend to discuss and the critical feedback they could give on the way I currently envisage their solution.In face of the above, the research stay at the University of São Paulo during the indicated period is of the utmost importance for the development of the work I have in hand. Naturally, the publication that results from this research process will mention, with due emphasis, the impact of the research stay at the University of São Paulo, as well as the research support provided by Fapesp. (AU)